You have been asked to be the best man. Then you realize one of your responsibilities is to propose a toast at the reception.
This is an opportunity to pay homage to people who deserve it. To do this, your toast should be carefully prepared, intimate, complimentary, sensitive, personal, kind and sincere. It can be funny or serious. It can be sentimental or pragmatic.
Toastmasters International Inc. recommends the following:
*Prepare an opening, body and conclusion. A toast is a speech.
*Make sure the toast fits the occasion in both mood and language.
*Be sincere. The best toasts are heartfelt.
*Don’t embarrass anyone. Be sensitive to your audience and to the occasion.
With the above in mind, you can now prepare your toast by weaving your advice or hopes for health, happiness, good fortune and other positive thoughts into a tapestry of prose or poetry.
Toastmasters offers an example: “Our bride and groom both are musicians. Elizabeth is an accomplished violinist and Brian a pianist. Elizabeth and Brian, we hope your life together will be similar to the music you love.
“May you both always play in the same key and may your troubles be minor and your joys major. We hope for harmony, with no sharp words or flat moments. Take turns playing the solo part and occasionally lend the other an accompaniment. Remember to keep your tones balanced properly, so one instrument does not drown out the other. Sometimes a duet can produce harsh notes, but strive with your skills not to play them. Always avoid the shrill and strident chords.
“Now let’s drink to our two musicians. May Elizabeth and Brian make beautiful music together!”
After writing your toast, rehearse it several times so that a short toast can be given without reading it and a longer toast requires only a glance or two. You want to remember that timing is important. Generally, the best time is after the chosen beverage has been poured for all guests and the room is relatively quiet.
Stand and look around the room until you have everyone’s attention. If need be, gently tap a glass with a spoon to suggest the sound of a toast. Then, when you have everyone’s attention, speak loud enough to be heard — use the microphone if there is one — and say, “I wish to propose a toast to the bride and groom.”
At this time everyone will lift their glasses. When all have done so, give the toast, making eye contact with guests around the room. Finish your toast as you look at each of the toastees in the eyes.
As someone once quipped, “To be a good toastmaster, you must be clever, be brief and be seated.” L’chaim!